Knight Boys Go Back-To-Back

Published: May 14, 1999 12:00 AM

Who finished second in this month's Kentucky Derby? You don't recall? Join the club.

West Holmes High School track coach Aaron Kaufman gave his team a reminder of that second-best scenario before Thursday's finals of the Mohican Area Conference meet.

"I told them that it would be a shame to have a great year and not finish it off here," said Kaufman, talking about his team's hope of defending its title. "It's been their goal since last year.

"And they got it. I couldn't be more proud of them."

West Holmes' boys won the MAC championship a second straight time despite not winning a single event Thursday. They piled up 136 points to fend off primary challengers Clear Fork (111), Black River (84) and Loudonville ( 80), with Buckeye (64) and Triway (18) rounding out the field.

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"Coach Kaufman came by every event, saying, 'We've got to get going, we're only up 19 points, we've got to get back-to-back championships,' " said the Knights' Jason Osburn. "I'm a senior. It's like, 'Yeah, I know.' "

Osburn, who defended his MAC long jump title in Tuesday's opening action, supplied the senior leadership necessary to victory. He placed third in both the open 100 and 200-meter races and anchored the 400 relay of Nolan Mackey, Tony Roberts and Doug Porter to a runner-up finish.

Osburn's 22.8 clocking in the 200 set a West Holmes' record.

"He ran a 23.2 as a sophomore, a 23.1 last year and a 22.9 this year," said Kaufman. "He and Nolan Mackey ran that at the Knight Invite, and they've both been trying to get it since.

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"It was too hot Tuesday, but today feels pretty nice," said Osburn after his record-setting run in a constant chilly rain. "I like rain, running in this. That's when I pull off my best times."

West Holmes' girls worked hard and pulled off some of their best times too, but weren't quite as fortunate as the boys. They finished second to Medina Buckeye, 174-137, for the second straight year despite Carla Finney's victory in the 800 and a dozen seconds and thirds.

"If we run our best times and that's not good enough, as long as we gave it our best shot that's all right," said Kaufman, whose girls turned in a ton of bests. "I couldn't be any more proud of them, either.

"They didn't win, but they lost to the best team around."

The best team around, that might be the Knight boys. Especially after winning the MAC without a victory (they won 3-of-4 events Tuesday) on Thursday.

"The kids keep asking me, 'Is this the best team in school history?"' said Kaufman. "I've been here running and coaching about 10 years. I told them I'm not going to say this is the best team.

"But, it's by far and away the most successful we've had. I think the most invitationals we've won before was one; they won three (River View, West Holmes, Triway) and were second at Dover and at Wooster, to Orrville, which speaks for itself."

When it was all over, not Loudonville's Brian Calim, winner of the 100 and 200, not Black River's Charlie Moskal, anchor of the champion 400 relay team, nor Clear Fork's distance champs could stop the Knights.

"Like last year, we have depth," said Osburn, after he and Mackey sealed the title with their 3-4 finish in the 200. "That's what is going to win it for us."

He was right. Osburn was third in the 100 and 200 in addition to the second by the 400 relay. Sprint sidekick Mackey, just a sophomore, was fourth in both the 100 and 200 and added a surprise second (52.4) in the 400.

Adam Hasemeyer pulled in a second in the 800 (2:06.1) and was fourth in the 1600 (4:45.3). Dana Pringle chipped in distance thirds in the 1600 (4:45.1) and 3200 (10:54.5).

Nate Manges' 49-1 1/2 effort in the shot was good for third, Eric Troyer's season-best 15.9 earned a fourth in the 110 high hurdles, while the 1600 relay team of Kyle Johnson, Rex Parsons, Brad Chaney and Luke Baker ran a 3:40.1 for fourth.

All the Redbirds' Calim did was win. For the second straight year he won the 100 (11.0), the 200 (22.4) and he anchored the winning 1600 relay. Courtney Seffens, also on the 1600 relay, added a second win by taking the high jump.

Making big strides toward the top were the Lady Knights.

"Carla Finney ran a 5:26.6 (to win the 1600)," said Kaufman. "That was just a second slower than she ran in winning regionals last year!

"Tara Funk ran a 2:25.1 in the 800. She has only been running the 800 a couple weeks!"

It took a stadium record run of 2:23.7 by Loudonville's Emily Eikleberry to beat Funk, who was second, with Finney (2:28.3) third. Tara Martin, in just her second week long jumping, soared 15-1 for a second.

The 1600 quartet of Funk, Veronica Martin, Finney and Mel Mohr ran their best time, a 4:11.6, that brought home a silver finish, while Sara Rinfret rolled to a 12:34 and a second in the 3200, one spot ahead of her freshman sister Alexis' 12:39.8.

Lindsey Bird, another frosh, ran a strong 13.0 as runner-up in the 100, and she anchored the 400 relay team of Randee Landfair, Rox Weber and Tara Mackey to a 53.2 and third.

Landfair, Bird, Mackey and Veronica Martin were third in the 800 relay with a 1:52.1 clocking, while Mohr added twin thirds in the 100 (16.5) and 300 (47.0) hurdles. Monica Austin chipped in a third in the discus.

The 'Birds' Eikleberry was outstanding for the second straight year. She won the 400 in 61.4, in addition to her 800 triumph. She also anchored the 1600 relay team to victory, giving her three wins for the second straight year.